“More time passed, and Hollow Knife came to Blade that Soars one final time. ‘Brother, guardian of man and soul of the heavens, we are of one blood and of one purpose, and with no secrets between us. I ask, where does your heart keep?’
“And Blade that Soars told him, ‘We are of one blood and of one purpose; there are no secrets between us. On the pendant that hangs around Dancing Wind’s neck, from where shines the brightest light of the world. It is there, and only there, I keep my heart.’
“And so Hollow Knife sought out Little Tears and told her, ‘If you wish to own my brother’s heart, then you must do as I say. It lies within the heartsglass your sister wears. You must take it from her in the dead of night when she lies sleeping, when they are weak and unaware.’
“And so Little Tears, driven by jealousy, did as he ordered. In the thick of darkness, with only the light of the moon to guide her, she stole into the tent where her sister lay fast asleep. With deft fingers, she took the heartsglass and drew it over her head, and Dancing Wind, oblivious, slept soundly on.
“But Hollow Knife lay in wait, and when Little Tears emerged from the tent with the precious heart in her hand, he knocked her down and claimed the jewel for his own. With great and terrible force, he dashed the heart into the ground, and the beautiful gem shattered into countless pieces.
“A cry came from every creature in the land, for they felt their creator die and their hearts along with him. Dancing Wind woke, but she was too late, for her lover lay dead beside her, and Hollow Knife’s betrayal was complete.”
The dancer with the diamond-encrusted mask sank to her knees beside her partner’s unmoving form, and the next dance she performed was slow and heavy with sorrow but no less graceful for it.
“Hollow Knife wrested control. He gathered followers and infected them with his taint. He gave to himself instead of giving back to the sea and sky and lands, and the world suffered. He joined his heartsglass with the remains of Blade that Soars and crafted a new, beautiful heartsglass that was as dark as shadows and ruin. With it, he created the daeva, worst of beasts; monsters whose grotesque forms mirrored his own heart. They blotted out the sun and turned the world into endless night, and the people wailed in terror and anguish. Among them, Hollow Knife ruled, laughing, as the False Prince.
“But Dancing Wind was unbroken. ‘Help me, Little Tears,’ she implored her sister. ‘Help me gather Blade that Soars’ heart so I can make him whole.’
“‘It is an impossible task’ was her cruel reply. ‘There are more pieces of his heart than there are stars in the sky and grains of sand on the ground—that is one. To repair it, you must give of yourself that which had been lost—that is another. And if you restore his heart, he will return only to you. I would rather we both spend eternity alone and grieving than to watch another instant of him in arms that are not mine. That is the last.’
“And so it was Dancing Wind who hid herself in the caves and, alone, began her task. Slowly and carefully, she pieced together the remains of Blade that Soars. But the heart was only half its original size, for Hollow Knife had usurped the rest. And so she gave half of her own heart to its making, so that the light inside flared once more, and Blade that Soars opened his eyes again, newly resurrected. Dancing Wind’s sacrifice had made their heartsglass like one, so that Blade that Soars wore hers and she wore his.
“And so the god rose from his grave and smote that false prince, Hollow Knife, and took back his lands and his seas and his skies.”
The man in the black onyx mask stood and began a series of complicated dances with the woman in diamonds, moving faster until the sleeves of their robes were a blur, their steps light and quick despite the heaviness of their hua. The man in the sunstone mask reeled back with every spin, retreating into the shadows of the stage. As one, Blade that Soars and Dancing Wind struck out at him, and a very real puff of fire erupted from their fingers. The stage erupted into flames. There were gasps from the onlookers. But just as quickly, the fire was doused, and among the rising smoke, we could see that Hollow Knife was gone.
“But the False Prince cursed the world. Now none of the fields could seed magic. Now all the world’s creatures lay stricken with death and disease. His followers hid, swearing their vengeance against the god who had so smote their master. And all were lessened as a consequence.
“And so Blade that Soars took his heart, strengthened by the love of Dancing Wind, and broke it into three parts. The first he buried in the soil, so that the fields could once more grow with magic. But because it was only a third of his heart, not all the land took hold, and so runeberries grew with lesser abundance.
“The second he gave to his creatures to heal their sickness. But because it was only a third of his heart, death and pestilence could not be cured completely, and so they shall always remain afflicted.
“The third he kept for himself. And it was here that Blade that Soars became the first of the heartforgers.
“But despite his treachery, he could not find it in his heart to kill his brother. Instead, he banished Hollow Knife to the underworld, where he was to wander among the ruins of the dead for all eternity.
“And Little Tears fell to her knees before Dancing Wind. ‘Forgive me, dear sister,’ she moaned. ‘It was Hollow Knife who bewitched my mind against you. I would not go against you for all the world.’
“And Dancing Wind’s heart was heavy when she replied, ‘You mocked me and sent me away. You are no better than Hollow Knife, and given the chance to do harm to me and Blade that Soars, you shall do so again. I will not banish you from the world as Hollow Knife has been banished, but no longer will you be able to use life’s magic for your own—that is one. You preferred Blade that Soars dead in your arms than alive to my touch; henceforth, your influence shall be limited to the ways of the Dark and of the dead—that is another. And you will never be able to give your heart away, like I joined mine to his, without taking most of your strength and your power. In this way, you will learn what it is like to be completely and utterly alone. That is the last.’”
The asha dancer in her gown of white and gray, with her mask of moonstones and black pearls, cowered back from her sister, swept a hand up to shield her face, and crept away from the stage.
“And Little Tears, the first Dark asha, fled but never could she escape her sister’s curse.”
There was a long pause. All the actors onstage remained still, and a nervous titter ran through the crowd.
“What’s going on?” a novice on my right whispered, puzzled.
“Lady Brijette was supposed to enter,” another girl hissed, clearly a veteran. “She’s missed her cue!”